A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

At the end of the book there are some author notes where he explains some of the narrative decisions in the story and some reference frames from the heroes who inspired So Shelly’s characters. Let it be mentioned that TY Roth is a fellow educator.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

A few impressions on a previously read book. I named the section like I did because as a passionate reader I like to use representation titles or words that I see in my favorite books.

*Glimpse: brief review on X title.

Favorite Quote

“I chose you freely, love.”

Page: 423

What I Liked

I really like the edgy vibe the story transpires, Abbey’s process of making perfumes is exquisite.   The loose endings that were tied up and the new characters were a  nice touch.

What I Didn’t Like

The rules that defined Caspian as a shade are lit bit unfair and different from the other shades on the story.   Because of this there’s something missing in his relationship with Abbey.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Pendrell
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 8, 2010

Author Web Page:

Sixteen-year old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn’t want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist’s attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn’t going to go quietly.

Gather: a peculiar girl, a boarding school, a hot guy with a peculiar talent, a “curse” and you’ll have Intrinsical / By: Lani Woodland. Intrinsical begins after Yara moves to her new school; Penderell along her best friend Cherie, who by some way or another, has always tried to contact the “supernatural” world. Ironically, Cherie lacks this gift while Yara is natural to it. After knowing details of Penderell’s “curse” with Brent, Yara will get to know more of her capabilities and what factor they will play to break the “curse” that has affected Penderell academy for decades. A word to summarize Intrinsical is; unpredictable, and I love that. Woodland teases the reader taking the story from one point to another gracefully, and what makes it more interesting are the clues left along the way. At lasts a story about humans but with a touch of fantasy for what readers are craving no matter what. I have liked the result from when all the pieces from the puzzle are over the table. The “curse’s” story itself possesses feeling and even for a second, the reader will feel some compassion for him or those involved. The role that Yara and Brent play or both of their families are a good touch that makes the story outstanding. My only point is that I would have liked to see more of Penderell Academy as a Boarding School with more strict laws, since it looked like the characters could come and go how they pleased. At the end, this doesn’t take anything from the story, but it would have been something nice to see. The end leaves a possibility for a sequel and if there’s one: where do I sign? Intrinsical, a great presentation letter for a debut author where a girl will not only fight to break a “curse”, save her life and her love interest’s, but overall, to settle terms with who she really is.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: July 12, 2010

Author Web Page:

His love captivated her …  his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.   After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach and somehow she’s connected to it all.   But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town … might cost her her life.

Gathering elements like Science, Fantasy, Mystery and Romance together, Shadow Hills is without a doubt a PAGE TURNER.  This first delivery by Hopcus narrated the story of Persephone “Phe” after her sister’s terrible death and her life’s changes because of some dreams she can’t figure out. Putting together info with secret entries from her sister’s journal, Persephone decides to switch schools to Shadow Hills, Massachusetts, a place described in the very last entry of the journal.  Once in Shadow Hills, Persephone tries to reveal the mystery behind her sister’s death no matter what, the meaning of her dreams and which puzzle piece the place plays. This will take her to open doors towards knowledge in a place where mystery and singularity of its inhabitants will leave her with more questions than answers while getting close to a costly truth.  I really liked Persephone as narrator. She is a strong, decided character which is featured to the reader in a simple way, which makes it easy to identify with.  Secondary and tertiary characters are well defined in their respective roles and allow the narrative to flow properly.  Romance in the story is interesting with both; character aspect and the chemistry between him and Persephone.  It’s really interesting and the elements Hopcus uses to develop the relationship are good for the reader. Fans of this type of reading will not be let down, on the contrary, they will count the days to read the sequel.  I must mention that the most fascinating aspect is that something is happening ALL the time and when the pieces come together it’s just wonderful to see the way the author combined all the elements. This is the major compliment I can give Hopcus for the presentation of this first novel. Shadow Hills; where the secrets of a town, a love tempted in so many ways and the singularity of a young girl collide in a novel full of emotions to which you won’t be able to stop reading until the last page.

I received some swag material that the lovely Anastasia Hopcus sent me.  I will give them between those who comment on the review.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: June 29, 2010

Author Web Page:

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.  Can they get over their mutual distrust and this weird attraction between them to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

If I could describe The Ghost and The Goth in just one phrase it would be: Strangely Adorable! The The Ghost and The Goth narrate the story of Alona and Will a little bit after Alona’s death. Narrated in two POVs under the main character’s voices, the story allows the reader to know them and understand the growth process each carry in the story. Alona is the typically perfect girl that exists in every high school and the one secretly envied by everyone, including her friends. Then, we have Will, the boy unknown by Alona’s elite group and the one people stare at twice because of his weirdness. Kade does a great job taking readers throughout a fun path but also learning at the end that there’s hope under everything where you can see the journey and suffering of our narrators at the same time. Alona’s journey and suffering is exactly as the description states; from being the party queen to being dead and stuck between two “worlds”. Will’s deal is to accept a gift which he considers a curse. At the end, Alona would find Will beyond being goth and Will finds Alona is much more than a ghost. The end is emotive, adorable and funny at the same time; making it a great combination for any reader and this could be the biggest compliment I can give the author. Kate thrives on the ability the blend those three in harmony.

The story leaves open possibilities for a sequel and I would LOVE  if the author could turn this story into a series.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Little Brown
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 8, 2009

Author Web Page:

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents’ deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.

The first time I learned something about this book was months ago from: Reviewer X Blog. The reviewer mentioned that Prophecy of The Sister swill be the next big thing we’ll have from Little Brown (yeah! the company who published Twilight). After reading Prophecy of The Sisters, I completely agreed. Prophecy of The Sisters is a story that, as a reader, you can feel you are a part of thanks to the rich descriptive 19^th century content and the exquisite manner the characters are developed. This book has something for everyone; a past era, mythical creatures, biblical references and a little about the coming of age in a different kind of way. Lia, the main character, will not disappoint you in this beautiful dark gothic story. She will take you on a journey about love, loss, self discovering about who she is, who she will be and how can she conquer all of her fears. The ending will leave you desiring more and more. Prophecy of The Sisters is dark, fascinate and a page turner. Prophecy of The Sisters is the first of a three book series.